Avery Willis: Finishing the Course
Early Friday morning, July 30, 2010, Avery Willis stepped from this world and into the waiting embrace of Jesus. His death was actually no surprise to his friends and family. Nor was it a surprise to his Master who had already written the millisecond of Avery’s departure in His book even before Avery’s earthly conception. As a doctor friend of mine said recently, “No one, not even the finest physician, can prolong a man’s life one second beyond what God has written.” “All we can do,” he continued, “is assist in making his journey comfortable.”
Those of you who know me well, know that Avery’s life has had a profound impact on my own. We share the same birthday, although he had a ten year edge on me, and for over thirty years, wherever in the world we were, we contacted each other on that date, February 21. But the impact of Avery’s death has been no less significant. In his death, I have witnessed what it means to “finish the course” (2 Tim 4: 7).
Let me explain.
In the final months of his life, whenever we spoke together, Avery made it quite obvious that he had work to do, and that he was pursuing that work avidly…sometimes even furiously. Like many others, I have received in these days countless emails containing information to be passed along, opportunities to be availed, and thoughts about future projects he felt would advance the Kingdom through witnessing and discipleship. A few weeks ago, after a visit in Avery and Shirley’s home in Bella Vista, Arkansas, I laughingly commented that some things just never change. I arrived for a time of fellowship, and left with an assignment!
On the Sunday before Avery’s death, two of us sat with him in the hospital room for almost two hours. After speaking together about the issues of orality, discipleship and intimacy with Christ, there came that moment when we knew we must depart. “Before you leave,” said Avery, “let me share with you several things I believe you must do.”
In the four telephone conversations we had together, each of the following four days, including a conversation just fourteen hours before his departure, Avery continued to speak of the importance of focusing our efforts on discipleship. I received an email from him, in fact, less than twenty-four hours before his death. And of course, we all saw his final note on the “Caring Bridge Journal” written a mere eight hours before his death, a message ending with these words: “Will update more tomorrow.”
I have met many men who died in their spirit long before they died in body. Facing the inevitability, or perhaps the nearness of their own death, they crawled into a cave of despair where they sat in introspective immobility, selfishly pondering what could or should have been. They quit before the race was over. Turning their face toward a wall of self-centered resignation they gave up long before their bodies gave out.
But not Avery Willis.
Avery Willis finished the course!
Thanks Avery, for your friendship, love, leadership and exemplary life. And thanks for modeling to the end what it means to finish the course.
May God give us all the grace to do the same!
Rejoice evermore!
Tom Elliff
2 Tim 1:12
Be much in prayer for Avery’s dear wife, Shirley, and all the others in the wonderful family he loved so much. Visitation is at the Bella Vista Baptist Church, August 2, 2010, 5-7:30 pm. Funeral service is August 3, 10:30 am, Bella Vista Baptist Church.
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7 Responses to “Avery Willis: Finishing the Course”
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I wish I could have known this incredible man of God. Thank you for the words of encouragment and insperation in light of Avery’s life. What a joy it must be to preach a funneral for whom you have not a doubt in you mind where He will spend eternity.
I didn’t know Avery Willis, but I’m looking forward to it. He was a great leader for me to follow from afar.
Many years ago, I was one who was discipled through MasterLife. Although I don’t recall the details, I do remember it having an impact on my spiritual life, and I still have the Bible reading plan (every chapter number was included, to be crossed off as read).
As I thought of Avery’s finishing well, I am reminded of another spiritual giant, Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. In a downward health spiral, he also worked passionately as he realized his “course” would soon be completed. Both these men were seeking, through their incredible giftedness, to continue to produce new life even as death closed in. Pondering these two godly examples should compel believers to “run the race” they so well modeled for us.
My prayers are with Avery’s family and others who knew him well.
Brother Avery was the first real missionary I met after being saved. As a new Christian, I followed his ministary through their family newsletter. I even went to college with his older son and daughter in the 70′s. It has been a wonderful life lived for Christ and I am richer for knowing him. God Bless his family and continued ministary.
Avery’s contribution to evangelicals, especially Southern Baptists, is greater than one could imagine. Certainly, he is noted for his leadership and influence in making disciples of all people groups. But, his influence in the lives of so many young evangelical leaders in the 1970s and early 1980s; who, now, for the past 30 years have led us into a new church planting and missiological expression is greater than one could measure. One cannot look at the greatest, most influencial, most godly leaders in SBC without seeing the unmistakable mark of Avery Willis.
Thank you for this lovingly written testimony regarding Avery Willis. I will never forget when Bud had the Willis’ come and give the missionaries in the southern Africa region a crash course in MasterLife. As a journeyman, I was a privileged participant. Years later, every time he saw me, whether a conference, convention, he always called me by name. I will be praying for sweet Shirley and their children, while rejoicing in his homecoming! He is right – God will use us to make an incredible difference in this world if we choose to disciple others for Christ. Blessing to you and your dear family.
Lynn (Bell) Armour
I was privileged to be at Oklahoma Baptist University during the time that Avery was a student there. Just being around him, you could see that God was going to use him in a great way. There was a song in the youth musical ‘Celebrate Life’ and one of the lines was “There was something different about him”, it was true about Avery and it showed through his life.